Sunday, August 24, 2008

The Return of Reggie Perrin: Great, Super

So the BBC plans to commission a remake of THE FALL AND RISE PF REGINAL PERRIN. Er, why? Do they seriously think it could be better than the original? It would be like someone other than Meatloaf singing BAT OUT OF HELL. I didn't get to where I am today by not knowing that ideas like this stink.

What also depresses me is the very narrow band of classics both BBC and ITV are devoted to - same old same old. How about extending into the European greats? Or how about new productions of single plays, say from 1945 onwards, that were theatrical or critical successes?

The (BBC)news from the meejagarjun/bbc love-in in Edinburgh is all about their celebration of the wonderful creativity of British TV. This remake classics lark doesn't seem hugely creative. In this case it also tacitly questions the divine nature of Sir Leonard of Rossiter. Heresy! Heresy!

Quite agree re good one off plays - and bring back original good drama like "Play for Today" as well.

Why don't they repeat some of the wonderful programmes they made in the past and which we never or rarely see now....e.g. The Pallisers, The Forsythe Saga, War and Peace, The Barchester Chronicles, The Onedin Line, Civilisation, The Ascent of Man etc.

And on the humour side - the Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (Super), The Liver Birds, The Goodies, The Likely Lads, Yes Minister, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, The Good Life, Porridge, Only Fools and Horses etc. I even had a soft spot for the Brittas Empire.

Sometimes they repeat an odd episode of some the above, but never the whole ouevre. Some turn up up on cable/satellite TV. Some never do.

In fact they could have a couple of repeat nights on BBC 4 every week which should save them a fair bit of money.

Or perhaps they prefer to make money out of DVD sales.

I can't imaagine that any of the cutting edge 'yoothy' TV producers has the lightness of touch to do Reggy properly.Flashy visuals and special effects instead of the simple 'hippo' inserts. They will add loads of sex and swearing (the farty cushion was just the right touch of vulgarity in the original).

The remake of Randall & Hopkirk, thinking of another example, was an utter travesty. Whatever next - remaking Fawlty Towers? Well, perhaps Gordon Brown could be cast as Basil, plently of scope for scary rages there.

The BBC should bring back 'Comedy Playhouse' it was a vehicle in which playwrights could bring their idea's forward, the best ones were made into 'one offs' and from which many 'series' such as Steptoe and Alf Garnett came from.

It would bring new scriptwriting talent to the fore and give new actors opportunities.

Put it all online for £1 an episode to download and we'll be scrapping the licence fee in a few years!

If anybody has had the misfortune to see Spooks, code 9 - or whatever it is called - you can see why something with wit, originality, slightly off-the-walledness would be awe inspiring for the shallow-minded insipients who currently commission BBC "drama".

Go on, with the exception of Dr Who, what has the BBC done of any worth in the last 12 years?

I have boxed DVD sets of "The fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin" and "The Prisoner". I dare not watch them in case they are not as good as I remember - but they give me a warm glow to realise that I can break them out if I am struck down by flu or whatever. I rather suspect that remakes will dull that sense of anticipation.

I've got an (unwatched) boxed set of David Carradine in "Kung Fu" too. Sad, but true.

Prediction - the real reason for bringing it back will be to emphasise a pro left anti right anti middle class agenda. Why else?

As for the old original - then without a doubt the classic moment was when Reggie's brother in law Jimmy (a brilliant Geoffrey Palmer) declared he was going to form a secret army the fight against a whole gaggle of miscreants and Reggie listed the sort of people he would attract.

I thought the idea behind GROT was great as well. Most of the stuff I buy these days seems to have originated from there.

There are one or two sitcoms, for instance Dads Army and Fawlty Towers, which must never be remade because their genius was an amazing combination of perfect story, perfect script and perfect cast. Reggie Perrin is one of these. They must let Reginald Iolanthe Perrin RIP. Funnily enough, there is one ITV sitcom which I believe falls into the same category. And it's Rising Damp - starring, of course, Leonard Rossiter.

I would have thought the ill judged mid-90's attempt at resurrecting Reggie Perrin - ie the Legacy of Reginald Perrin, would have put the death nail in this particular franchise so am surprised to hear attempts to further revive it, could you perhaps provide us with a link as to where you have heard about it?

Great situation comedies are successful because they are of their time and any attempts at revival are just doomed to failure.